School helps keep street a bit more comfortable - #lakewoodnews

Some conscientious Wheat Ridge elementary students scarf-bombed area parks last weekend.

More than 60 scarves were knitted, crocheted or sewn by parents, staff and students at the Mountain Phoenix Community School, 4725 Miller Street. On Nov. 5, the group distributed the scarves, tying them to trees and signposts around area parks and walkways. Each included a card that says, "I'm not lost. If you're stuck out in the cold, please take this to keep warm."

Mountain Phoenix Community School is a public Jeffco charter school in Wheat Ridge that follows the Public Waldorf Education model.

A portion of the scarves were also given to Wheat Ridge Police Officer Steve Berkowitz to be made available at severe weather stations for the homeless, which open on extremely cold nights at Fruitdale and Johnson parks.

Leslie Hillen of Lakewood, and her daughter, who attends Mountain Phoenix, were among the knitters who helped scarf-bomb the parks.

"It sounded like an easy way to give back, taking what we do at home as a craft," said Hillen.

Named the Scarves with Heart project, it is particularly meaningful to families at Mountain Phoenix because it reflects the school's core values and features handwork, a skill that is woven into the curriculum.

"Handwork is an important part of the curriculum, that strengthens math and fine motor skills and teaches valuable lessons such as paying attention to detail, a sense of accomplishment in a completed project, and managing one's time wisely," said Liza Cole-Brant, the school's handwork teacher.

Students are taught a progression of developmentally appropriate handwork skills that support their learning, including knitting, crocheting, hand sewing, embroidery, cross stitch, wet felting and sewing. In grades one through eight, all students take handwork two times a week, according to school sources.

Sandra Konta, a mother of two daughters who attend Mountain Phoenix, and the school's communication coordinator said the project is modeled after something similar done by a Waldorf school in Detroit.

"It's just such a fitting project for a school that loves handwork," Konta said.

Hillen said she feels it is important to give back, and to teach her daughter compassion for others because "it's easy to get complacent when you're comfortable in your own life, and forget about people in other situations."

Mountain Phoenix is also hosting a coat drive through Dec. 16. The community is invited to donate coats at donation bins located on the Miller Street side of the school, close to the parking lot.

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